A CONTEST which elevates the humble food fight into an art form was carried out with meat-filled aplomb in Ramsbottom.

Hundreds of spectators gathered outside the Royal Oak pub in the village to witness the annual World Black Pudding Throwing championship.

The curious custom aims to recreate ancient regional rivalries in which the meaty delicacy, embodying all that is Lancastrian, is forcefully hurled towards stacked towers of Yorkshire puddings.

Around 700 people competed to knock as many of puddings off a 20ft ledge within a given time.

Ammunition

The culinary head-to-head dates back to the mid 19th century and is said to recreate an episode from the War of the Roses, where rival Lancashire and Yorkshire forces resorted to hurling food at one another after running out of ammunition.

A familiar component of the traditional English breakfast, black pudding is made of pigs' blood, fat and rusk, encased in the animal's intestine.

Gemma Riley, who works at the Royal Oak pub, said: "The town was absolutely packed. We've had people taking part from Australia who have come over especially for this and a lot of people from down south."